The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-08-11

800 -
Of 4 slight, 1.-THE figure and as careless
IL graceful as q child. Her complexion
wa of creamy, almost transparent
Wilderness, the crimson showing only in
her cheeks and lips.
Fall, Winter and early Spring passed
uneventfully away; then there came Q
time when the house was in an unusual
state OF commotion and expectancy.
Capt. Marlow's son Robert was coming
home. He would be here soon. now;
he had been in South, America, and ii
was more than a year ago that he had
gone away. Mrs NARROW speculateG
as to how his coming would affect
Kathleen, who seemed as joyfully eager
to prepare for him as she did herself.
But when he came the broad-shoulder.
ed captain of the High-fyer was fal
more affected than was Kathleen.
1t was Robert who frs induced hel
to step into q boat. She seemed
ashamed of her fears, but her face was
very pale as they took the first sail
down the river together. As the time
went on she grew accustomed to the
water and came to enjoy it.. Many
were the sails the two took during the
long Summer afternoons. On one Of
these as they rowed slow along toward
a cove bordering the father side of the
island, Robert said, looking off to the
wooded islands beyond, with their
green branches reflected in the Shop
scots clear water, ''How still it Isl!
We might fancy ourselves the only peo.
Dlo anywhere ahOut."
He let the oars rest and the boat
drifted slowly; the tapping of the
waves was the only sound.
YES" Kathleen returned, II was
foolish not to like the water"
tt'You like itspoW 2" J.
''When"I am with vou." The words
came SO quickly, and she did not look
| up, but sat as before, with one hand
over the boats side just touching the
water" %i$ ~
The young man leaned suddenly to-
ward her. Kathleen" he said, stay
with me always. Come with me over
the water where I am going. : want
you-need YOU can't you love me
enough ?"
The girl looked up at him with Nse
| wondering look of. a child. Love
YOU" she said. ''of course; are you not
my brother"
mo. I don't want a sisters love. ]
want a wife's.
The bright color that had been in the
girls face until now died suddenly out.
a startled, troubled look came into the
brown eyes looking up at him.
''Oh, Robert! I can't, I can't!"
He started more at her voice than
her words and asked quickly, ''Why
can't your"
For a moment she seemed struggling
with herself, then with a despairing
face, she cried, 81 don't know; + can't
remember.".&<E, : - = @.af
A few weeks later they were making
a call on some friends of Roberts on a
neighboring island; an open piano
stood near: where Kathleen was seat
ed, and as they were to go she went to
it, and struck a few notes. The others
turned in surprise; they did not know
she played; but without needing them
she seated herself, and after a few un-
certain touches her fingers flew lightly
over the keys, bringing out such melo-
dy' as its owner had never known how
to awaken. Robert and his friends
stood amazed, askone after another the
selections followed each other in rapid
succession. Suddenly the girl paused,
bowed her head on her hands and Sob
bed aloud.
Something like a week after this a
stranger came across the big rock and
made his way to the side door of the
old NARROW house. A young man with
clear-cut features and an Enthusiastically
well-bred air. There was an eager
look in the steel-blue eyes and a sup
pressed excitement in his manner,
when he asked the gray-haired woman
at the door if she was Mrs. NARROW.
He introduced himself by a card. on
which was the name Everett Moulton.
Then he entered, and made known
his call.
Kathleen came into the next
while he was speaking: :, She heard the.
voice and paused, the troubled look;
coming into her face; then she went
nearer and stood in the doorway. The
young man turned, and saw her as she
started toward him with a light, break
ing into her face. ~
=. Everett, she said, softly. shave you
come for me?"
Eyes, Kathleen"
And Mrs. NARROW, with tears in her
eyes, went out and left them alone. 4
Ere long the story became known.
A little more than a year back Kath-
leen Bray, the daughter of a man of
supposed wealth, found herself, upon
his death, left penniless andalone. She
accepted for the summer tae position
of pianist at a popular hotel, where she
met Everett .Moulton. The ,acquaint-
ance grew into something more than
friendship, but the Moultons were a
proud family and would not hear to
the only sons marrying a poor girl like
Kathleen.
She was treated coldly, ~unfeelingly
by them, till her sensitive nature was
stung almost beyond endurance, and
late one afternoon, hardly thinking or
.caringawhere she went, entered a boat
moored nearsthe shore and rowed aim
lessly up the river. The storm came
on, and weary, bewildered, i'll, she
found her way at length to the old
MARROW homestead. The boat, was
found down the river afterward with a.
light wrap in it recognized a hers.
The Moultons thought she had taken
herself disereetly away, and Everett
mourned her as lost until afriend wrote